Dental students will get fees paid

on 19 February 2008

Students attending Scotland’s newest dental school opening in October will get their fees paid by the Scottish government.

The £7000 cost to study on the four-year post grad course at Aberdeen’s new £15million dental school will be waived for the 15 students (rising to 20 in subsequent years).

Public Health Minister Shona Robison announced the move in view of the need for more dentists in the area.

She said: ‘It is important we make studying dentistry attractive.

‘As a general rule, tuition fees for postgraduate or second degree courses have to be met by the student.

‘However, there are exceptions to this for some vocational courses like nursing, teaching and allied health professionals, where there is a need to boost numbers in particular professions.

‘Following discussions with Aberdeen University, I have decided that it is only fair that students at Aberdeen Dental School have the cost of their fees met, as is the case for other dental students in Scotland.’

However, the sweetener will not oblige qualified graduates to remain in the north east of Scotland where there is an acute shortage of NHS dentists – but the hope is that they may opt to stay in local NHS-linked practices once they do qualify.